GHMC jams traffic plans

Hyderabad: The vision of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in transforming Hyderabad in to a ‘Global City’ may have to wait for some time, as several works related to traffic management proposed by the city traffic police are pending for long with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

While files did not move fast in undivided Andhra Pradesh State, even after formation of Telangana and the State government announcing various measures to modernise the police force, there appears to be no respite for the citizens as several proposals pertaining to streamline traffic flow continue to be held back by the GHMC.

Works pertaining to as many as 113 non-junction Zebra crossings, 83 free-lefts, 94 non-signal junctions, 157 HTRIMS signals located in 25 traffic police stations limits in the city commissonerate are pending with the Corporation. Despite sending several reminders, hundreds of works that include modifications, development of junctions and roads proposed by the traffic police are pending with the GHMC officials including Commissioner Somesh Kumar, the police said.

According to data available with the traffic department, there over 1.6 lakh pot holes and bumps on the main roads of Twin Cities, which are either constructed above the height of the road or at least half a foot below. According to officials, requests to improve traffic at various junctions, median correction, footpath expansion, construction of Foot over Bridges (FoB) at several places including hospitals and Secretariat, removal of encroachments, clearing of debris and earth are pending with the engineering department of the GHMC.

Letters were sent for repair of as many as 283 damaged road stretches on August 17, 2013 and another proposal was sent for repair of 314 damaged road stretches and reminders were sent on July 20, 2013 and February 6, 2014, but no action has been initiated. Request for additional signage boards, removal unnecessary speed breakers, closing of gap in medians, shifting of bus stops, proposal of marking of roads at 225 important traffic junctions, request for induction of safety measures at schools and colleges, request to take necessary action to ensure the usage of subways and many others are also yet to see the light of the day.

As a result people are left to daily suffer traffic jams with bad roads and lack of scientific signal management system in several parts of the city. Though people are registering their grievances with the traffic police through social media, helpline and various other channels including personal representations, the department is helpless since the GHMC engineering wing has to take care of such grievances.

With a view to solving the traffic woes plaguing the city, the traffic police plan to submit a report on pending proposals with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to the Chief Minister soon. When asked as to why the GHMC was delaying the works, a senior officer told The Hans India that the GHMC officials say that delay is because of the ongoing Hyderabad Metro Rail project which is in progress.

“But there are several places where metro works are not being carried out or do not fall under metro rail path. We are chalking out plans to facilitate the motorists with the available resources. Proposals are being sent to the government to permit the traffic police to take the engineering section under their control, which will effectively reduce the time gap in carrying out necessary works for implementing a smooth flow traffic system in the city,” the official said.

By:Jayendra Chaithanya T